Al Horford: ‘I’m very happy in Atlanta’
Al Horford has had enough of your frivolous “greener pastures” talk already.
With the February 18 trade deadline approaching, followed by his unrestricted free agency this summer, the Hawks center took some time to put to bed some rumors about his perceived relationship with the franchise.
“I’m very happy in Atlanta,” Horford said over the weekend per Sam Amick of USA TODAY Sports. “I’ve said it repeatedly. I love the city. My family, we all live in Atlanta, we stay there in the offseason, so my focus is just to keep playing and taking it day by day.
“That’s the only thing I can do,” he continued. “We really can’t worry about three or four months from now.”
Horford, 29, is averaging 15.3 points per game and 6.9 rebounds per game for the Hawks this season. He was drafted by the team in 2007 and has played his entire nine-year career so far in Atlanta. Horford has made four All-Star teams in a Hawks uniform, including being selected as Chris Bosh’s injury replacement just days ago.
Rumblings have emerged in recent days about the Hawks’ supposed willingness to trade their core players, Horford included. It’s a notion that would at least make some sense given that their 60-win campaign in 2015 is beginning to look more and more like a mirage. Horford himself is a particularly interesting case as he is on an expiring contract, making it advantageous to Atlanta to protect against losing him for nothing this offseason.
But one would think that the Hawks would love to keep Horford around. The former No. 3 overall pick is a versatile big that can both stretch the floor and bang down low. What also makes Horford unique is that he doesn’t need high-volume touches on offense or to have a defense anchored around him in order to be effective.
The Hawks being able to ensure Horford’s willingness to sign a long-term extension in Atlanta is obviously the most desirable endgame, and Horford’s comments should help them breath a bit easier on that front. Still, his words may not necessarily be a fail-safe considering how LaMarcus Aldridge said similar things about the Blazers last season only to jump ship for the Spurs over the summer. But all in all, Horford seems content, and perhaps the play here for the Hawks is to see how they can complement Horford rather than panicking and rushing to see what they can get in exchange for him.
Image Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
H/T Rotoworld